Self-propelled payloads for aircraft

Abstract

A self-propelled payload (SPP) for an aircraft, such as an unmanned aircraft. The SPP includes an independent propulsion unit which is configured to counter the effect of payloads of the aircraft. This improves operational effectiveness of the aircraft.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An aircraft comprising:
 an aircraft propulsion system for propelling the aircraft; 
 a horizontal situation indicator (HIS), the HIS indicates a position of the aircraft based on a center of gravity of the aircraft; 
 a self-propelled payload (SPP) system mounted onto the aircraft, wherein the SPP system comprises
 an SPP propulsion unit independent of the aircraft propulsion system, the SPP propulsion unit is configured to generate thrust in first and second opposite thrust directions, 
 a controller for controlling the SPP propulsion unit to adjust the position of the aircraft at a desired position according to a desired center of gravity of the aircraft, taking into consideration of a payload of the aircraft which includes the SPP system, wherein the desired position depends on a desired aircraft maneuver; and 
 
 wherein adjusting the aircraft at the desired position comprises controlling the thrust in the first and second opposite directions to improve operational effectiveness of the aircraft based on the desired aircraft maneuver. 
 
     
     
       2. The aircraft of  claim 1  wherein the aircraft comprises an unmanned aircraft. 
     
     
       3. The aircraft of  claim 1  wherein the SPP system is mounted on a side of the aircraft. 
     
     
       4. The aircraft of  claim 1  wherein the SPP system comprises:
 an SPP housing unit, the SPP housing unit includes
 a mount for mounting the SPP system onto the aircraft, the mount includes a housing body joint, 
 a housing body, the housing body is coupled to the mount by the housing body joint; 
 
 an SPP payload unit, the payload unit includes the SPP controller for controlling the SPP propulsion unit, the SPP payload unit is disposed onto the housing body; and 
 the SPP propulsion unit. 
 
     
     
       5. The aircraft of  claim 4  wherein:
 the mount comprises a rotatable mount configured to rotate around a y-axis which is about perpendicular to a horizontal position of the aircraft; 
 the housing body joint is configured to rotate around an x-axis which is about perpendicular to the y-axis; and 
 the first and second opposite thrust directions are parallel a plane of a base of the housing body. 
 
     
     
       6. The aircraft of  claim 5  wherein the plane of the base of the housing body is about parallel to the y-axis. 
     
     
       7. The aircraft of  claim 1  wherein the controller automatically controls the SPP propulsion unit to adjust the magnitude and thrust direction based on input from the HSI to maintain the desired position of the aircraft. 
     
     
       8. The aircraft of  claim 1  wherein the desired aircraft maneuver comprises:
 hovering; 
 normal flight; 
 right turn; and 
 left turn. 
 
     
     
       9. The aircraft of  claim 1  wherein different desired aircraft maneuvers comprise different desired aircraft positions. 
     
     
       10. The aircraft of  claim 1  wherein the payload comprises:
 the SPP system; and 
 a dynamic payload which changes weight during flight. 
 
     
     
       11. The aircraft of  claim 1  wherein the payload comprises:
 the SPP system; and 
 an additional payload. 
 
     
     
       12. A self-propelled payload (SPP) system for an aircraft comprising:
 an SPP mount configured to mount the SPP system onto an aircraft; 
 an SPP propulsion unit, wherein the SPP propulsion unit is independent of the aircraft's propulsion system, the SPP propulsion unit is configured to generate thrust in first and second opposite thrust directions; 
 an SPP controller, the SPP controller is configured to control magnitude and direction of thrust of the SPP propulsion unit adjust a center of gravity of the aircraft to a desired center of gravity, wherein the desired center of gravity is based on a desired aircraft maneuver, taking into consideration of a payload of the aircraft which includes the SPP system; and 
 wherein adjusting the center of gravity to the desired center of gravity improves operational effectiveness of the aircraft. 
 
     
     
       13. The SPP system of  claim 12  wherein the SPP controller automatically controls the SPP propulsion unit to adjust the magnitude and thrust direction based on input from an HIS which determines position of the aircraft to maintain the desired position of the aircraft. 
     
     
       14. The SPP system of  claim 12  wherein different desired aircraft maneuvers comprise different desired positions. 
     
     
       15. A method of operating an aircraft comprising:
 providing an aircraft with an aircraft propulsion system for propelling the aircraft; 
 mounting an SPP system onto the aircraft, wherein the SPP system includes
 an SPP propulsion unit, wherein the SPP propulsion unit is independent of the aircraft's propulsion system, the SPP propulsion unit is configured generate thrust in first and second opposite directions, and 
 an SPP controller, the SPP controller is configured to control magnitude and direction of thrust of the SPP propulsion unit to adjust a center of gravity of the aircraft to a desired center of gravity, wherein the desired center of gravity is based on a desired aircraft maneuver, taking into consideration of a payload of the aircraft which includes the SPP system; and 
 
 operating the aircraft using the aircraft propulsion system, wherein during operation, SPP system is activated to adjust the center of gravity of the aircraft to the desired center of gravity based on the desired aircraft maneuver to improve operational effectiveness of the aircraft. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  wherein the aircraft comprises an HSI to indicate the position of the aircraft. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  wherein the SPP controller automatically controls the SPP propulsion unit to adjust the magnitude and thrust direction based on input from the HSI to maintain the desired position of the aircraft. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15  wherein different desired aircraft maneuvers comprise different desired aircraft positions. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15  wherein the SPP system comprises:
 a rotatable mount for mounting the SPP system to the aircraft, the rotatable mount is configured to rotate around a y-axis which is about perpendicular to a horizontal position of the aircraft, the rotatable mount; 
 a housing body joint connected to the rotatable mount, the housing body joint is configured to rotate around an x-axis which is about perpendicular to the y-axis; 
 a housing body connected to the housing body joint, the housing body is configured to contain the SPP propulsion unit; and 
 wherein the first and second opposite thrust directions are parallel a plane of a base of the housing body. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19  wherein the plane of the base of the housing body is about parallel to the y-axis.